Project-based learning in the age of AI is no longer a luxury. It's a necessity. Dr. Jennifer Berry of SmartLab explains why.

In Episode 379 of My EdTech Life, I welcome Dr. Jennifer Berry from SmartLab, which builds turnkey, hands-on STEM labs and career-connected curriculum for school districts. A former professional dancer who has spent decades in education, Dr. Berry defines STEM identity in a way that reaches far beyond science and math: I belong, I can master rigorous challenges, and my ideas add value.

We talk about why hands-on learning matters more now that AI can produce the answer, how students build communication, collaboration, and discernment by working through real problems together, and why the best teachers act as facilitators instead of the sage on the stage. Dr. Berry also shares the story of a shy student who opened up to an engineer during a STEM Identity Day, and why SmartLab measures its impact with pre and post assessments instead of relying on anecdotes.

What you'll learn:
- How SmartLab defines STEM identity and why it transfers to any career
- Why AI makes hands-on, project-based learning a necessity
- The difference between a dedicated STEM lab and a flex model that brings projects into every classroom
- How to bring local industry partners into your school
- Why durable skills like systems thinking and computational thinking matter alongside communication, collaboration, and critical thinking
- What makes a program more than "random acts of STEM"

Chapters:
0:00 Workforce readiness starts early
0:28 Welcome and thank you to our sponsors
1:24 Meet Dr. Jennifer Berry of SmartLab
2:25 How SmartLab defines STEM identity
3:58 A turnkey STEM ecosystem, from the room to the community
7:30 From professional dancer to STEM leader
10:08 Why hands-on learning is a necessity in the age of AI
12:22 Two models: the dedicated lab and the flex model
16:19 From marketing to the math classroom
18:24 The twins story: hands-on learning and language growth
21:50 STEM Identity Day and a shy student's breakthrough
27:39 Measuring real impact beyond the test
32:50 Durable skills students need in the age of AI
35:33 Facilitators, not the sage on the stage
38:38 Relationships bring back the joy of teaching
42:30 Not random acts of STEM: SmartLab's five components
48:59 How to connect with Dr. Berry

Connect with Dr. Jennifer Berry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-berry-9a05113/
SmartLab: https://smartlablearning.com

Join the conversation: Where have you seen a hands-on project spark an aha moment for a student who usually stays quiet? Tell us in the comments.

Thank you to our sponsors: Comeback Coffee, Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Peel Back Education.

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